Valve alarm



K. WATSON yJune 9, 1931.

VALVE ALARM Filed Sept. 8. 1930 INVENTOR. KEA/N67# WA 7150A/ A TTORNEYS.

A Patented June 9, 1931 UNIT-ED STATES lrsoaei'i Kennern wATsoii, orsnur'ieauoisc'o, cALiiionii'in VALVE ALARM Application led epteinber 8,'1930.

This invention relateslto automatic'einerg gency valves as used forautomatically shutting oil pipe lines in case of fire o r einergency,and has for its object the actuation i of an alarm by and upon theshutting of the valve so that an attendant. elsewhere in the building orat areinote point will be either audibly or visibly apprised of theclosing of the valve.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple Astructure ofthis character which may at all times be relied upon to operate, thoughnot Vcalled upon to do so for years at a time, also such a constructionwhich will coep'erate with the common type of electri toggle snapswitch, also aspecial construction whereby the invention may be quicklyapplied both to an existing type 'of einergency valves and to a coniinontoggle snap il switchandwill form a unitary cooperating structureofthe'thie'e parts. Other features of the'invention will appear in thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

"In the "drawings F ig. l is'aside elevation fr; of my completeinvention showing'the valve broken away to reveal its innerconstruct-ion.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assemblage of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the '33 assemblage showing amodied form of the switch operating flange of the valve plunger. Infurther detail the valve is of the type to be placed on a gas servicepipe, oil fuel pipe, ammonia pipe, or other pipe carrying dangerousfluids which it is highly important be quickly shut o in case of lirenearby. Such valves are of known construction and in the drawings ittakes the form of an angle valve body 1 with inlet at 2 and outlet at 3,while within is a vertically movable plunger or stein 4 carrying a valve5 at its lower end adapted to fit upon a seat 6 for closing the inlet 2when the plunger is down. Y

The plunger passes through a stui'ling box 7 and is normally forceddownward by a spiral spring S, though held up with the valve open byinea-ns of a fusible link or cylindrical member 9 of easily fusiblemetal interposed between the gland nut 10 of the stufling box and aflange-like nut 11 on the upper end of a Serial No. 480,385.

screw v12 which screws into a threaded bore inthe plunger for drawingthe same up when nut 11 is turned,'and when so adjusted the valve is setopen ready for tripping to shut oli" the inlet 2 the moment anydangerous increase of temperature, as from a nearby fire, should heatthe fusible link 9 to its melting point.

As shown in Fig. 2 the nut 11 on these .5,--

valves as furnished is a hexagon one just about large enough tooverlie'the upper end of the 'fusible member 9, and it also' is providedwith a screw driver slot 13 toturn it when pulling up the plunger 4 andcompressf device` provided with a split collar v16 clainpi ing abotittheneck of thevalveasby means of ascrew il' and a similar split collar 18lclamping :about the outer end of a switch block as 'by Imeans of a.screw 19.

rEhe 'other end of `the switch block is clamped 'in the complementarilyVformed opening of-acoiiduitbox 2O in which the terminal leads 21,22 ofthe alarm circuit eX- tend to the switch mechanism. This switchmechanismjis not detailed as anysnap switch construction will do and itis not claimed herein.

The alarm circuit receives its current from any suitable source ofelectric energy such as the battery indicated at 23, and extends to anyform of visible or audible alarm as the electric bell 24.

ln operation, assuming Athe device to be set7 as :in Fig. 1 with thefusible link 9 in place and the toggle switch lever 14 up l against 'thenut 11 and circuit broken by the switch, then upon an adjacent fire, ordeliverately applied heat, melting the link, the nut 1,1 will instantly7be forcedvdownward to the dotted position uponk closing of the valve andcarry the toggle with it and to close the circuit and set off the alarmwhich may be, say in the hotel clerks office to give notice that a firein the basement has shut 0E the gas or oilfuel switch, and thus giveadvance notice of the dangerous condition without waiting for the smokeand flames to appear.

It will be noted that the nut 11 snaps down upon melting of the link ormember 9 and that therefore it will throw any switch to make contact butthe use of a snap switch` gives an added element of safety as it willinstantly close the contact if carried just a trifle over center in itsdownward movement, and in setting the device the toggle 14 is arrangedjust above center so that a very slight movement of nut ll in a downwarddirection will suflice to snap the switch and sound the alarm.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the toggle actuating nut and wherein itis made in the ible link holding the same open, an electric alarmcircuit provided with a switch arranged adjacent said valve, and meanson said valve arranged to trip said switch upon closing movement of saidvalve.

3. In combination, a pipe valve provided with means for automaticclosing and a fusible link holding the same open, an electric alarmcircuit provided with a switch arranged adjacent said valve, meansholding said valve and switch in operative relation,

and means on said valve arranged to trip said switch upon closingmovement of said valve.

4. A valve body provided with a springi actuated valve, and a slidablevalve `stem projecting out of the body, means for holding the stem outwith valve open including a fusible link device and a flange movablewith said valve stem supported against said fusible link, an electricswitch arranged adjacent said valve providedwith an operating leverarrangedin the path of the flange for tripping upon movement of theflange.

5. A valve body provided with a springactuated valve having a movableportion projecting from the body, 'means for normally holding the valveopen against the spring, an electric switch arranged adjacent said valvebody, and means carried by said movable portion arranged and adaptedupon movement to trip said switch.

6. A valve body provided with a springactuated valve having a movableportion projecting-from the body, means for normally holding the valveopen against the spring, an electric switch arranged adjacent said valvebody, a device firmly clamping said switch and said valve in operativerelation, and means carried by said movable portion arranged. andadapted upon movement to trip said switch.

7. A valve body provided with a springactuated valve having a movableportion projecting from the body, means for normally holding the valveopen against the spring an electric switch arranged adjacent said valvebody, a yoke provided with means encircling said valve and said switchholding same in operative relation, and means carried by said movableportion arranged and adapted upon movement to trip said switch.v

8. A pipe valve body provided with an axially movable valve andprotruding valve stein, a screw threaded to the outer end of said stemand provided with a laterally eX tending fia-nge, means normally holdingthe valve in one position and a toggle switch arranged adj aceiit saidbody with its toggle in the path of said flange to be operated uponmovement thereof. v

9. A pipe valve body provided with an axially movable valve andprotruding valve stem, a screw threaded to the outer end of said stemand provided with a laterally eX- tending flange, means for normallyholding the valve in one position, a toggle switch arranged adjacentsaid body with its toggle in the path of said flange to be operated uponmovement thereof, and means holding the valve body and switch inoperative relation to one another.

KENNETH WATSON.

